5 surprising foods that could prevent varicose veins
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- Berries, grapes, ginger among foods that may help prevent vein disease
- Rutin is one of the best compounds for anti-clotting and heart-related conditions
Heredity is probably the biggest factor in whether you could become one of the 80 million people around the world with varicose veins. And while there is no cure for vein disease, there are certain foods that may give a person a fighting chance against a tough genetic hand. Consider adding these foods to your diet today!
Bring on the berries
Blueberries and blackberries are packed with rutin, a critical flavonoid with anti-clotting factors. A 2012 Harvard study measured 5,000 compounds for their ability to block a critical protein involved in the blood-clotting process. Rutin blew away the competition and was seen as having potential preventative effects for both arterial blood clots that cause strokes and heart attacks as well as venous clots seen in serious vein conditions like deep vein thrombosis. READ MORE…
Fab over 40: 7 tips for gorgeous legs
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- Oranges and grapefruits offer the highest levels of vitamin C.
- Even modest weight loss of five to 10 pounds can bring benefits to your heart, blood pressure.
- Endovenous Laser Ablation is a laser procedure with little downtime and scarring.
Healthy legs can help us look and feel younger even as we get older. Gorgeous legs start with a strong circulatory system, which is key to keeping varicose veins and other forms of vein disease at bay. Lifestyle choices have a say in the matter as well. Consider these exercise and diet tips to keep your legs looking great, even after 40.
The calf is key…
Flexing your calf muscle gets the blood moving up your leg and towards your heart. Those with poor circulation often have weak valves in their veins which allows the blood to pool in ankle areas instead of moving up the leg as it should, causing varicose and spider veins.
Getting up on your toes will often do the trick. A brisk walk or jog also activates the calf muscle. If you sit during most of the workday, take breaks that involve walking or stretching and getting up on those toes as much as possible. Even while sitting, engage your calf muscle by moving your foot up and down whenever possible. READ MORE…
You are the MVP
Congratulations ladies on making it through yet another Football Season! Now’s your turn for the MVP treatment- visit the Morrison Vein Institute today! Get your Free MVP Vein Screening and take a tour of our New Tempe Location! https://www.facebook.com/MorrisonVein/posts/8494554151
MVP Vein Treatment for Super Bowl survivors.
Vein health: No pain, plenty to gain
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- 60 percent of all men and women have a form of vein disorder, the most common being varicose veins
- Screening and ultrasound is the first step to understanding your medical needs and insurance coverage
Latest varicose vein treatments are now more effective than ever.
The National Institutes of Health estimates 60 percent of all men and women have some form of vein disorder, the most common being varicose veins. For decades, vein stripping was the primary treatment technique for improving these unsightly areas of the legs.
Fortunately, vein stripping is now a thing of the past. Today, there are virtually pain-free treatments done on an outpatient basis that require little time for recovery. They are safe, effective and changing the lives of thousands of Americans every year. READ MORE…
A Letter to New Mothers
Now that I can look back as a grandma, this is so sweet and seems like good advice.
Please wear compression stockings when you are pregnant too.
I’ve got several friends who are expecting, or have recently welcomed, their first babies this year. Whenever I think of them, I have an instant flashback to my first week home with Claire, which is blurred at the edges with the ungodly sleep deprivation that comes with the gift of parenthood.
I would not say that I handled the adjustment well. I remember my mother-in-law calling me “unflappable,” and my own mother saying how wonderfully laid back I seemed, but this was either a great ruse on my part or it was simply their interpretation of what I remember as a feeling of utter overwhelm.
After talking with two friends this week who now live farther away from me than I would like, I was also reminded of the blessed kindness extended to me as a new mother. These two women – one, the mother of two, and the other…
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azcentral.com: Do your legs itch or swell?
There may be more to your varicose veins than meets the eye.
Blood clots, ulcers and other concerns could loom
Often women with varicose veins – and some men too – visit a vein specialist with thoughts of looking better in shorts or a swimsuit. But many come away surprised to learn this seemingly cosmetic problem could be tied to serious health risks.
Dr. Nick Morrison is the founder of the Morrison Vein Institute in Scottsdale and Tempe, Ariz. He is a world-renowned phlebologist and the past president of the American College of Phlebology. Morrison has seen many patient consultations where the conversation shifts from aesthetics to potentially life-saving lifestyle changes and treatment options.
“I’ll ask if the legs are feeling itchy. Are they swelling? Do your legs feel heavy when you stand on them for a long time? Do you have a family history of varicose veins or stroke? These are very important questions that could say a lot about what’s happening under that surface vein problem,” Morrison adds.
Varicose veins occur when a vein’s valves stop functioning properly. With these faulty valves, instead of blood flowing in one direction toward the heart, as it should, it now moves in both directions and pools in areas of the vein. These pools of blood can then be seen on the skin’s surface.
And there can be so much more to the story, Morrison says.
Chronic disease
Varicose veins are also associated with chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), which can bring leg swelling as a result of increased blood pressure in poorly functioning veins. The condition most commonly occurs as a result of a blood clot in a deep, larger vein, which is known as Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT).
DVT is particularly dangerous, as a Pulmonary Embolism (PE) could occur if the clot breaks free and travels to the lungs. PE is responsible for between 60,000 and 100,000 deaths each year.
More superficial blood clots are referred to as phlebitis, or thrombophlebitis, and can produce pain and swelling. But phlebitis is far less serious than DVT since it occurs in smaller veins closer to the skin’s surface.
“Often times a patient may see a new varicose vein and it’s a call to action for them. With a checkup they can now explore what’s going on under the surface,” Morrison adds.
For checkups, Morrison conducts a venous reflux study, which involves an ultrasound of the leg. The non-invasive approach is welcomed over the sometimes uncomfortable venogram method, which uses an x-ray and dyes to view veins. The ultrasound and detailed family history allow Morrison’s team to create a treatment map. Patients can be in and out in less than an hour and leave with a wealth of information about the current state of their venous system.
“Many types of insurances cover testing because they want to rule out DVT or blood clots,” Morrison adds. “You can’t just treat the surface veins. The patient needs to understand the whole picture.”Az Republic Gallery
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What’s still here? A Physician Coach’s Perspective
I appreciate Dr. Fronek, my family, my patients, my Morrison Vein family!
Several years ago, on a beautiful and sunny day in Mammoth, I was skiing with a friend. Gone were our days racing down the black diamonds; we now cruised the blue, intermediate runs. Wistfully, we acknowledged that we had changed. We had lost 
something through the years. Our joints were less forgiving and our bones more fragile; the risks of falling had become greater. The thrill of speeding down the mountain had been replaced by caution and we felt sad about our loss.
In a recent medical school class, we discussed our experiences of grief and loss. We each experience many losses, and so do our patients. In fact, sometimes it feels as if much of medical care involves dealing with loss of one sort or another. Until we are comfortable with our own grief, it’s difficult to witness and be present for our patients when they feel this deep emotion. So in this class, we share our…
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